Pat Fitzmaurice, a veteran analyst for fantasy football, has turned his attention to the hidden gems that could reshape 2026 draft boards. While early-round quarterbacks dominate headlines, he argues that the real upside lies in the later selections, where risk is lower but upside can be high.
Malik Willis's Dual-Threat Profile
Malik Willis signed a three-year, $67 million contract with the Miami Dolphins this offseason. He has averaged 44.8 rushing yards per game and scored four touchdowns in six career starts, while completing 78.7 percent of his passes for an average of 10.9 yards per attempt over 11 appearances with the Green Bay Packers.
Tyler Shough's Rise in New Orleans
Tyler Shough became the New Orleans Saints starter in Week 9 of the 2025 season and led the team to a 5-4 record. In nine starts he completed 67.6 percent of his passes, threw for ten touchdowns and six interceptions, and added 16.9 rushing yards per game with three rushing scores. The Saints drafted wide receiver Jordyn Tyson with the eighth overall pick to give Shough an additional weapon in the passing game.
Sam Darnold's Super Bowl Success
Sam Darnold guided the Seattle Seahawks to a 14-3 regular-season record and a Super Bowl victory in 2025. Over the last two seasons he has completed 66.9 percent of his passes, averaged 8.2 yards per attempt, and thrown 60 touchdown passes against 26 interceptions. He also averaged 28.1 pass attempts per game while the Seahawks ran the ball at the league's third-highest rate.
Why Late-Round Quarterbacks Offer Value
Fitzmaurice's analysis hinges on the notion that these quarterbacks bring a blend of mobility, accuracy and proven clutch performance that can pay dividends when drafted in the later rounds. Their contracts, while sizable, are structured to include performance incentives, making them attractive for salary-cap-savvy fantasy managers. For owners who stack talent at other positions early, targeting Willis, Shough or Darnold in the tenth round or beyond can yield a high-upside starter who may outperform his average draft position.